Burglars hit several homes in Waldo County

BELFAST, Maine — Police are investigating a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries that were reported Thursday in two communities in Waldo County.

Chief Jeff Trafton of the Belfast Police Department said two separate residents of the Banks Road called within 20 minutes of each other Thursday evening to report their homes had been burglarized.

Among the items reported stolen were a PlayStation 3, cash, a camera and various camera lenses, according to police reports.

A Maine State Police evidence recovery technician came to the scene of at least one of the burglaries to help search for clues. Among items found were DNA from the person believed to have broken into the home and footprints.

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Another resident on the Poors Mills Road in Belfast reported an attempted burglary of his home.

“They tried kicking the door in, but it just didn’t quite work,” said Detective Sgt. Bryan Cunningham of the Belfast Police Department.

Police are searching for a man in his early 20s who was seen in the area of the break-ins.

Officials from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a residential burglary that occurred at a home on Higgins Hill Road in Morrill, which is not far from the other reported break-ins.

In Morrill, the homeowners had been away at camp and when they returned home on Thursday they found that someone had broken into their home through a door in the garage.

The thief reportedly stole a 12-piece set of silverware in a mahogany box that was a family heirloom and also some rolls of coins.

“We’re thinking the burglaries may be related because of their close proximity,” Trafton said.

He encouraged people to “keep their eyes and ears open.”

“If they see anything that looks different, a strange vehicle, or a strange pedestrian they’ve never seen before, please call us right away,” he said.

He especially encouraged neighborhood watchdogs to take down license plate numbers of suspicious vehicles.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is urged to call Waldo County Dispatch at 338-2040.